Some sensory stimuli generate spontaneous K‐complexes

Abstract The present study was performed in order to determine whether spontaneous K‐complex are induced by sensory stimuli. Electroencephalogram (EEG) segments in stage 2 sleep containing an evoked K‐complex or spontaneous K‐complex were separately averaged with respect to the peak of N300, one of the main components constituting the K‐complex. Small negative and positive components were found immediately before the main components of spontaneous K‐complex in averaged EEG. These two components were judged to correspond to N100 and P200 induced by the sound stimulus. The present findings suggest that the spontaneous K‐complex is not a spontaneous phenomenon but that it is induced by sensory stimuli.

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